More than 130 cited for alcohol offenses at Seafair

By BRAD WONG, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Saturday, August 4, 2007

A Bellingham woman consumed so much alcohol on a boat during Saturday's Seafair festival that she went into a coma and more than 130 people were cited for alcohol offenses over the last two days, a Washington State Patrol spokesman said.

On the second day of this year's festival, thousands of fans watched hydroplanes race across Lake Washington but police and the Coast Guard were busy issuing citations to reckless boaters and drivers.

From Friday until Saturday afternoon, police arrested at least 70 people for suspicion of boating under the influence of alcohol, Merrill said. On Friday, police arrested 26 people near the festival for driving under the influence.

During the two days, police also cited at least 36 minors for possession of alcohol.

And on Friday, three men were spotted along the Mercer Island shoreline after they had allegedly broken into a nearby home and stolen a case of wine.

When the resident returned home, the men ran but officers in a patrol boat spotted them, got out and arrested them.

Meanwhile, fans gathered near the lake on Saturday to watch the Blue Angel pilots fly their F/A-18 Hornet jets, and others stopped along Airport Way South near Boeing Field to gaze into the sky.

For some Blue Angel fans, getting close to the jets has become a tradition. For others, the location provided an escape of sorts.

At the airport, the roar of engines filled their ears, as the jets took off. Engine smoke filled the tarmac. Camera shutters clicked.

The festival, which has corporate sponsors, pays $12,000 for the elite U.S. Navy team to perform.

Seattle resident Bob Powell, 64, sat on the roof of his 1968 Volvo and looked skyward.

"I like watching from the get-go," he said, his foot resting on the door. "Noisy? Yes. But there's nothing like a jet taking off. It will shake the paint off a car."

More than 150 cars, trucks and SUVs lined both sides of the street for about one mile.